Chapter 48
Nic worked on some finances in a hotel bar, his case officer keeping him informed about delays to the meeting. It was late afternoon by the time Roger walked into the room. Nic jumped up to greet him like a starving man who’d just set eyes on an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Roger laughed and clapped him on the back. ‘I have good news. There are one or two small things you still need to address, but generally the meeting went in your favour, and largely speaking, you can start work.’
Nic could barely contain his excitement or thanks, and the men spent the next half hour talking. After Roger left, Nic texted his father and brother before inviting Aria to dinner to celebrate.
Back at home, he sat at his desk and reopened his laptop.
When another raft of emails appeared, he decided he needed a PA as well as a business manager asap.
Theo had done the job of both, but he was one of a kind.
Nic started drafting adverts. Looking in his diary for interview dates, he remembered the wedding invitation.
Someone had obviously dropped out, or else Justin was keen for another round of dick-wagging.
If he attended, he could spy on the enemy camp and maybe chat with some of the Hetherington investors. But might that upset or undermine Aria?
His hands rested on his keyboard as he thought about where things stood with her.
Last night had been fantastic and he couldn’t wait to wine and dine her tonight before taking her to bed.
This time in an actual bed. He looked around the show home and sighed.
It wasn’t real life. This wasn’t his home.
Could they continue long distance? Did she want to?
Was he thinking with his dick and not his head?
And if that proved to be the case, could he face faking a break-up of their made-up engagement to fix things?
His critics would celebrate being right all along about not being able to trust him.
But what was the alternative? It wasn’t like they could come clean and tell everyone they were kidding about being in love.
And anyway, he wasn’t kidding. What a muddle.
Putting his head in his hands, he tried to think.
He wished he could talk to someone about the whole mess, but couldn’t burden Theo any more than he already had.
He obviously couldn’t tell Aria his fears, and he was starting to worry about having to make a decision about the ransom strip now that work would be starting on the marina.
Taking a painkiller for a growing headache, he remembered how his mum used to soothe him as a child by massaging his scalp.
He missed her. And after some hesitation, he decided to leave her a message telling her he’d got the planning.
He was surprised when she picked up, and even more gobsmacked when her tone was warm and she invited him to stay for the weekend.
Not wanting to take the olive branch for granted, he arranged to travel the following day.
He could check in on Theo on the way back.
Closing his laptop, he had a shower and waited for Aria to return from work.